This is an Assumption question. You need to analyze the formal logic strcture of this passage to answer the question.

novelist

academia

READ

Some difficult words are here such as intersperse.

ANALYZE

CHOOSE

(A) Incorrect. This response introduces a foreign concept of impartiality which is irrelevant in the passage.

(B) Incorrect. the powers of observation and analysis is only useful but not required. This needs not be assumed. The passage focuses on the intuitive grasp of the emotions and response (B) does not impact the central logic.

(C) Incorrect. Participation in life is not required at all. The logic of the argument hinges on the intuitive grasp which does not require participation.

(D) Correct. To see if this assumption is vital, suppose this reponse is negated. Novelists can be great without an grasp of the emotions. The factor which prevented the people in the academia from becoming a great novelist is gone! The author can no longer argue that you can't be great if one remain in the academia.

(E) Incorrect. This one is an attractive choice. The key here is the difference between knowledge and an intuitive grasp. The passage leads us to differentiate the aspects of emotions that can be grasped by observing and analyzing them as a dutiful scholar would do. The author argues that there are intangible aspects of the emotions that the scholars miss and that aspects had to be experienced by immersing oneself in real life. Just like you can read about law school but it is nothing like experiencing one.

Another reminder why reading a sentence for its full meaning is so important on the LSAT. Look at line 27. "According to Dworkin, this account is incompatible with the actual practice of judges and lawyers, who act as if there is a fact of the matter even in cases where there is no consensus. The theory he proposes seeks to validate this practice without falling into what Dwokin correctly sees as the error of natural law theory."

Reading the entire sentence gives you E, and helps on question 25 as well.